Effects of Pruning on Haloxylon aphyllum L. Dimensions and its Application in Biological Reclamation of Desert Regions in Yazd Province

Abstract

Knowledge of the Saxaul dimensions used in sand dunes stabilization is considered essential for designing live windbreak in desert regions. This research aimed to collect and analysis data and was performed on the pruned and control shrubs of <em>Haloxylon aphyllum</em> L. in Yazd province, Iran in the last two decades. Our review clearly showed the superiority of shrubs pruned at the height of 35 cm in comparison with the other treatments as well as the superiority of soil surface height pruning with shoot thinning in the first year as compared with the other years. In the present study, data of canopy diameter and height of <em>Haloxylon aphyllum</em> L. from three treatments including "35 cm height pruned method", "shoot thinning method" and "control" were collected and analyzed using a completely randomized block design with three replications over 7 years (1995 to 2000 and 2005). Results of this study showed that the maximum canopy diameter of shrubs was obtained in the 35 cm height pruned method and soil surface pruning plus shoot thinning method with the average values of 261 and 240 cm, respectively with no significant differences. In addition, no significant difference was found for their heights (164 and 174 cm) and the dimension of pruned shrubs never reached to the height that was obtained before pruning. It was concluded that in designing the live windbreak with <em>Haloxylon aphyllum</em> L., considering the normal dimension of 35 cm height pruned shrubs at the executive levels as a practical pruning method is of high importance.